Improvement in car-brakes



F, A. cANFlELn.

` Improvement in Car BraKes.

No. 122,564, PtentedJanvJaz.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-BRAKES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 122,564, dated January9, 1872.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDEEroK A. CAN- FiELD, of Dover, New Jersey, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Brakes for RailroadCars, oi' which the following is a specification In the accompanyingdraWing,A represents a car-body of ordinary construction, such as isused for the transportation of coal. B B are the wheels, of which thecar has four. G C are the brake-blocks, which may be of wood or anyother material used for that purpose. These blocks are attached to theflexible iron strap D, the ends of which are fastened to the frame ofthe car at the points E E. This strap may be three inches wide and aquarter of an inch n thick, more or less. F is a vertical brake-rod,

which is operated by they wheel G, upon the lower end of which is ascrew, H, passing through a nut, I, which is xed to the frame of thecar. On the extreme end of this brakerod is a block, K, having a grooveor channel cut in it lengthwise, of the Width of the iron strap D,through which groove the strap passes and is secured by a pin fromfalling out. The end of the brake-rod is inserted in this block in asocket, so arranged that the rod can revolve Without turning the block,and can raise the block with it as it is raised.

When the brake is not in use the brake-rod is screwed upward, carryingwith it the block K, and lifting also the strap D, which is secured inthe block by a pin or otherwise, so that it will be carried up with theblock. The effect of raising the strap will be to lift the brake-block Cand relieve the wheels from all restraint.

When it is desired to apply the brakes the wheel G is screwed down,carrying with it the strap D and the blocks C C, throwing a part of theWeight of the car upon the brakes, which weight can be increased to anydesired extent by diminishing the pitch of the screw and increasing thediameter of the Wheel G.

This arrangement can be modified in a great varietyY of ways Withoutaltering the principle of operation; the form here shown being a simplearrangement for coal-cars in which the brakes are applied to one pair ofWheels only.

I am aware that ear-brakes have been used in which the suspended straps,carrying the brake-blocks, have been depressed by a lever operated bythe hand or foot of the brakesman; but this arrangement has been founddefective. The combination of the brake-strap with a screw, operated bya brake-Wheel, is the new arrangement which makes this form of brakereliable.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

'Ihe combination of a metallic brake-strap, substantially such asdescribed, with a screwrod, operated by a wheel or handle, substantially as described, for the purpose of a carbrake, as described.

FRED. A. CANFIELD.

Witnesses:

T. B. BEECHER, PHIL. R. FoRREsT. (122)

